Moon bathes festival in its glow

Quirky traditions

In China, family reunions and celebrating the harvest aren't the only popular traditions during Mid-Autumn Festival.

Praying for marriage and children is not uncommon. But on the first night of the festival, people in Hubei and Hunan provinces "steal" melons from fields and give them to married couples as a blessing to have children.

Dong ethnic people who live in Hunan and Guizhou provinces steal vegetables under the bright glow of moonlight, which is meant to bring them happiness for the year.

Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time to settle debts and pay wages. "It's an important time for accounting, and it's also the day when some bosses decide to renew or stop employees' contracts," Zhang said.

Colorful games and competitions for children are also part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, she said.

Lanterns are popular with children. In Guangdong province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the lanterns are made from grapefruits. In Weifang, Shandong province, children play by the light of incense sticks tied with sweet wormwood.

Zhang said where the full moon is observed from is also very important. "Places that have a clear view are considered ideal, such as on a mountain, in a boat and next to the river," she said.

"The full moon not only guides people on when to reunite and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, it also provides spiritual consolation for people who are separated."

Just as the moon waxes and wanes and people meet and say goodbye, optimism can be drawn from seeing the same full moon no matter where you are, Zhang said.